Photo submitted by Martin Hornby - (Gallaher Cigarette Cards)

James Henry Fynn was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Photo of Victoria Cross recipient James Henry Fynn, migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference site with permission. ... Photo of Victoria Cross recipient James Henry Fynn, migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference site with permission. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Victoria Cross, Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. ... The English noun Commonwealth dates originally from the fifteenth century and in different contexts indicates one of: a nation, state or political unit a state founded on law by agreement of the people for the common good a republic a federated union of constituent states. ...

Details

He was 22 years old, and a Private in the 4th Bn., The South Wales Borderers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Private refers to: privacy the ability of a person to control the availability of information about and exposure of him or herself. ... The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. ... The British Army is the land armed forces of the United Kingdom. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

On 9 April 1916 at Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia, Private Fynn was one of a small party which dug in, in front of our advanced line and about 300 yards from the enemy's trenches. He went out and bandaged a number of wounded men under heavy fire, making several journeys in order to do so. Being unable to get a stretcher, he carried on his back a badly wounded man to safety. April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... Mesopotamia ( Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin two rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ...

Further Information

He was killed in action, Mesopotamia, on 30 March 1917. Mesopotamia ( Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin two rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

James Henry Fynn was born at St. Clements in Truro, Cornwall, but the family later moved to Downing St., Bodmin. This article is about the city in the United Kingdom. ... Cornwall ( Cornish: Kernow or occasionally Curnow) is the part of Great Britains south-west peninsula that is west of the River Tamar, often known as the Cornish peninsula or plateau. ... The town of Bodmin lies in the centre of Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, along the western edge of Bodmin Moor. ...

His parents were Frederick John Finn (b.1873) and Mary Baxter Fynn (nee Uglow) of [Camborne]]. 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

James was survived by at least 2 brothers, Sussex Fynn, & Mr Albert E.R. Fynn of Kilhallon, Par and 4 sisters Mrs Annie Hoskin, Mrs Bertha Wigget of Watchet, Somerset, Mrs V. Capper & Mrs. C.H King. One sister Elizabeth Mary FYNN, died in 1953 and was buried at Bodmin with her father at Bodmin Old Cemetry. Interestingly the headstone also mentions James killed in action 1917 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The town of Bodmin lies in the centre of Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, along the western edge of Bodmin Moor. ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Fynn went to South Wales looking for work. He eventually found employment at the Colliery at Cwmtillery. For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation) National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Official languages: English and Welsh Capital: Cardiff First Minister: Rhodri Morgan AM Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² xx% Population  - Total (2001):  - Density: Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS...

At the Colliery he made friends with Willie Townsend and eventually went to live with the family in Frederick street which has since been demolished.

On the outbreak of War he immediately enlisted with the local Regiment, The 4th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. ...

It was during action in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) that Private Fynn earned the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Mesopotamia ( Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin two rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ...

An extract from "The London Gazette", dated, 26th Sept., 1916, records the following;- "For most conspicuous bravery. After a night attack he was one of a small party which dug in in front of our advanced line and about 300 yards from the enemy's trenches. Seeing several wounded men lying out in front he went out and bandaged them all under heavy fire, making several journeys in order to do so. He then went back to our advanced trench for a stretcher and, being unable to get one, he himself carried on his back a badly wounded man into safety. He then returned and, aided by another man who was wounded during the act, carried in another badly wounded man. He was under continuous fire while performing this gallant work. 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

His Memorial at Basra, Iraq. Panel Number: 16 and 62 The Basra Memorial was originally sited within Basra War Cemetery but in 1997 the Memorial was moved by presidential decree of Saddam Hussain. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety. The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the Gulf War. The Memorial consists of a roofed colonnade of white Indian stone, 80 metres long, with an obelisk 16 metres high as the central feature. The names are engraved on slate panels fixed to the wall behind the columns. More than 40,000 British, Indian and West African dead who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the Autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921, are commemorated on the Memorial. Location of Basra Basra (also known as Başrah or Basara; historically sometimes called Busra, Busrah, and early on Bassorah; Arabic: البصرة, Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of about 1,377,000 in 2003. ... Location of Basra Basra (also known as Başrah or Basara; historically sometimes called Busra, Busrah, and early on Bassorah; Arabic: البصرة, Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of about 1,377,000 in 2003. ... Saddam Hussein Saddām Hussein ʻAbd al-Majid al-Tikrītī (Often spelt Husayn or Hussain; Arabic صدام حسين عبدالمجيد التكريتي; born April 28, 1937 1) was President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. ... Location of Basra Basra (also known as Başrah or Basara; historically sometimes called Busra, Busrah, and early on Bassorah; Arabic: البصرة, Al-Basrah) is the second largest city of Iraq with an estimated population of about 1,377,000 in 2003. ... Nāşirīyah (also transliterated as Nassiriya or Nasiriya; in Arabic ناصرية, al-Nasiriyah or an-Nasiriyah) is a city in Iraq. ... For the obelisk punctuation mark, see dagger (typography). ... Mesopotamia ( Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin two rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1966 Fynn was also remembered at his home town at Bodmin when an estate was named in his Honour. The ceremony was attended by many members of his family and members of his Regiment. The plaque commemorating the event was unveiled, and can be seen opposite the library in Bodmin. His VC is now located at Bodmin Town Hall. It is not known if it is on public display-1...

John FYNN Died Sept 25 1942 aged 69

Also his son Pte J.H. FYNN VC Killed in Action 31 March 1917

and his daughter Elizabeth Mary FYNN died Nov 4 1953 aged 53

In memory of Bessie 4.11.53 From Officiers & staff at St. Lawrences Hospital

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

The medal is held in a bank by Bodmin Town Council in Cornwall. They do not have the facilities or money to put it on show.

See also

External links

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.